Simplified body rest adjustment for coffin



R L. HEGMAN ETAL SIMPLIFIED BODY REST ADJUSTMENT FOR COFFIN Filed July 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. ROBERT L. HEGMAN BY CLINTON L. WEBER giw;

ATTORNEY.

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SIMPLIFIED BODY REST ADJUSTMENT FOR GOFFIN Filed July 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. ROBERT L. HEGMAN BY CLINTON L. WEBER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,300,829 SHVIPLIFIEI) BODY REST ADJUSTMENT FOR COFFIN Robert L. Hegman and Clinton L. Weber, Cincinnat Ohio, assignors to Safegard Corporation, Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 10, 1964, Ser. No. 381,833 1 Claim. (Cl. 27-12) The present invention relates to improvements in caskets and, specifically, it provides a simplified body rest adjustment for-a co-ffin.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a body support structure which is readily adapted to use with a variety of height-adjustment structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a body rest adjustment and body support structure which are readily placed in a cofiin and which utilize relatively inexpensive and easily manufactured parts.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following description of the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates in perspective, generally in top view, a coffin embodying a preferred form of adjustable body rest structure in accordance with the invention;

FIGURES 2 and 4 are cross-sectional views of a part of the FIGURE 1 embodiment as taken along the section lines 22 and 44 of FIGURE 1, respectively, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an alternative form of foot end rest in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view partly broken away, showing an alternative form of head end adjusting bracket in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken axially through one of the tubular end members of the body rest, showing how it fits into a notch of the FIGURE 2 bracket; and

FIGURES 7 and 8 are, respectively, fragmentary side elevational and top plan views of an alternative construction utilizing threaded brackets at both head and foot ends of the body rest.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1, 2, there is shown a conventional casket body 10, comprising a bottom 11, ends 12 and 13, and sides 14 and 15. A platform 16 formed in accordance with the invention provides support for the corpse.

In the FIGS. 1, 2 embodiment of the invention only the head end of the body supporting platform is adjustable as to height. In order to provide for this adjustment, there are placed within the cofiin and adjacent end 12 -a pair of spaced brackets 17 and 18. The head-end brackets 17 and 18 are fastened either to the end or bottom of the cofiin (FIG. 2) by any suitable fastening expedients (not shown). Each bracket is formed with a plurality of notches extending diagonally upward :as typifiied by notch 19. The upper surface of each notch is formed with a rounded and upwardly extending lip surface 20 to permit for ready adjustment of the head end of the platform.

In order to prevent side motion of U-shaped end portion 24 of the tubular platform and therefore in order to secure the head end of the body support platform against lateral motion, the lower inner surface 21 of each notch is formed with a protruding tang 22 (FIG. 2) which engages in a complementary aperture formed in the transversely extending part of end portion 24. It will be understood that notch 19 is representative of the plurality of notches formed in each of brackets 17 and operation.

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18 in order to provide for height adjustment of the head end of the platform.

The platform structure is integral and comprises U- shaped tubular end portions 24 and 25 and side portions 26 and 27 extending parallel to the length of the coflin. The platform 16 is provided with an integral mattress within the casing shown and this casing is positioned by being looped at its sides around the longitudinally extending portions 26 and 27 and at its ends around the end portions 24 and 25. The entire frame or platform is constructed of one piece of tubing. This tubing is then welded at one point (FIG. 5, near 49) after the bending The casing is placed on the frame either before welding or after welding as is suitable or required.

In the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment the position of the head end is adjusted as to height while the position of the foot end of the body support remans fixed in height brackets 28 and 29 a pair of brackets such as that shown in FIG. 3, of generally U-shaped configuration, with supporting feet, which feet are secured to end 13. The relationship between end portion 25 of the platform and the brackets such as 28 and 29 is such that portion 25 slides back and forth linearly in the slots 23 to' permit vertical height adjustment of the head end of the platform. The play permitted by the slots 23 is required not only by reason of the tilt of the platform during adjustment but also to permit the complete Withdrawal of end portion 24 from any notches on which it may be engaged, when adjustment is being made.

In the FIG. 1 structure, the head end of the body support platform may be secured to theform of adjustable bracket illustrated in FIG. 5, in lieu of the brackets 17 and 18. The FIG. 5 bracket comprises an integral screw threaded portion 30 and a U-shaped body comprising a body portion 31 and tabs 32 and 33 at the ends of the body. The tabs are made of bendable metallic material so they can be readily deformed as indicated at 34 and 35 to permit the restraint or release of end portion 24 by the FIG. 5 bracket.

The preferred structure utilizes the FIG. 5 bracket at the head end (in lieu of brackets 17-18 of FIG. 1) and the FIG. 4 bracket at the foot end.

The FIG. 5 bracket is again shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 78. In order to position the bracket 40 at the head end of the coffin, a vertically oriented screw 36, disposed between seat 37 and lug 38, is adjustably turned by crank 39. It will be understood that the FIG. 4 foot end bracket may be used in the FIGS. 78 combination, in lieu of the foot end bracket there shown. In the foot end bracket of FIGS. 78, the reference numerals 44, 41, 42, 43 and 45 designate parts or elements corresponding to those previously described and numbered 40, 36, 37, 38 and 23 respectively. It should further be understood that the FIG. 3 foot end bracket may also be used in the FIGS. 78 combination in lieu of the foot end bracket there shown.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the platform 16 comprises a casing 47 and suitable filling material 48. The casing is for-med so that it loops over the tubular side portions and end portions as illustrated at 49 and 50 to provide security for the mattress. The platform construction herein disclosed, comprising the longitudinally extending support portions and the U-shaped end portions 24 and 25, is very flexible in its usage in that it is readily adapted to use With brackets as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or with any combination of head-end and foot-end brackets as shown in FIGS. 3-5 or 7-8. This tubular construction is adapted for use either with side mounted brackets or bottom mounted brackets or end mounted brackets. This unusual flexibility for utility in coffin constructions is not a result which inheres in tubular frame constructions per se and is an outstanding and unforeseen advantage flowing from the realization, which the invention first accomplished, that the tubular frame construction was of utility in coffins.

The construction possesses additional advantages in that it is easily placed in engaging relationship with notched brackets or other types of brackets and is readily released therefrom. Additionally, the tubular construction is readily adj-ustably positioned at either end or at both ends. When only one end is adjusted as to height, the tubular construction readily lends itself to the provision of horizontal sliding plat at the other end. For the reasons stated, the tubular construction possesses many advantages in addition to its mechanical simplicity per se.

While there has been shown and described what is at present believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the proper scope of the invention as defined by the claim hereto annexed.

Having fully disclosed our invention, We claim:

In a coffin of the type which provides adjustable support rfior a corpse, the combination of:

a mattress,

a generally rectangular shaped integral tubular frame to provide peripheral support and security for the mattress, said frame having a head end and a foot end,

said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending rod portions and a pair of. spaced generally U-shaped transversely extending rod portions,

a jack screw vertically positioned adjacent said head end,

means for adjusta-bly vertically positioning the head end of said frame comprising a generally U-shaped bracket having longitudinally extending portions formed with apertures which journal one of said transversely extending rod portions and with a threaded portion complement ng said jack screw, and

means for vertical supporting the foot end of said frame and permitting longitudinal movement of said frame incident to the adjustment of the jack screw comprising a pair of spaced brackets each formed with a longitudinally extending slot adapted to permit sliding movement of the other rod portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 289,643 12/1883 Goff 27---12 2,224,339 12/1940 Davis 2712 2,230,433 2/1941 Pinto 27l2 2,397,697 4/1946 Shaw 5ll 2,848,781 8/1958 Slaughter et al 27-12 ROBERT MORGAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Examiner.

W. E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner. 

